A website from UGA Cooperative Extension
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Wild beauty: How to transform your lawn into a native, perennial landscape

Byline: Emily Cabrera

UGA Logo - Cultivate and image of white pollinator meadow

Wild beauty

Done with mowing? How to transform your lawn into a native, perenial landscape

As a native plant enthusiast and coordinator of the Great Southeast Pollinator Census, Griffin hand-selected each of these native plants for the countless ecological services they provide year-round, from supporting pollinators to offering habitat for birds and mammals. For Griffin and a growing number of like-minded individuals, the beauty of a landscape lies not just in its appearance but in its function — an idea that has fueled the rising trend of “re-wilding” home spaces as an alternative to conventional, high-maintenance lawns. Read full article: Wild beauty – Done with mowing?

Hurricane / Storm Resources

Multiple resource and be found on the Camden County Extension Emergency Preparedness & Disaster Recovery webpage.

Weathered but strong deargia hurricane relief fund

UGA partners with Georgia Farm Bureau to help hurricane relief efforts.

Georgia Farm Bureau has now set up a fund for people to make monetary donations that will go directly to farm families in need.  It is called Weathered But Strong and you can access the site at : Donate Now – Georgia Hurricane Relief Fund. UGA Extension is partnering in this effort.

Invasive Species Alert! – Chinese tallow tree (aka popcorn tree)

Chinese Tallow Popcorn tree fruit and leaves with dripping pollen stems

Chinese tallow tree (aka popcorn tree) is an invasive species

Overview:
Chinese tallowtree is an invasive tree that is native to Asia and was introduced as an ornamental and for seed oil production. It is now spread broadly throughout the southeastern US. Tallowtree is allelopathic and has high levels of tannins in the leaf litter, which can alter soil conditions. Now is a great time to spot this tree in the landscape and remove it, as it currently has mature fruit resembling popcorn on the branches. Chinese tallowtree is one of the worst invasive species that we deal with in Coastal Georgia.
Appearance:
A deciduous tree reaching 60 ft (18.3 m) tall and 3 ft (0.9 m) diameter. Foliage is alternate, triangular to nearly heart-shaped, 2-3 in (5.1-7.6 cm) long with a narrow, pointed tip. Leaf petioles are 1-3 in (2.5-7.6 cm) long. Flowers late spring to summer. Blooms are yellowish, small, and occur on 8 in (20 cm) long, dangling spikes. Fruit are three-lobed, greenish, and found in clusters at the end of branches. Fruit mature to black and later open revealing white, wax covered seeds.
More Info:
Emerging/expanding leaves are orange-red before turning green. It has attractive autumn colors. Additional information and images

Report Invasive Species Sightings: Reporting, maps, and more on invasive, pest, and biocontrol species